Protecting handbags during storage

ABSTRACT

A handbag shape is stabilizing during storage by assembling an expandable bladder inside a limiting frame, and placing the assembly inside the handbag and inflating the bladder. The frame includes planar portions which are positioned proximate the expandable bladder to prevent expansion of the bladder in a particular direction. The planar portions can be supported by a relatively more narrow stiffener, such as a wire or band. The assembled expandable bladder and frame are placed inside an expandable outer envelope, and the assembly is positioned inside the handbag. The bladder is then inflated to be expanded to thereby exert a force against interior surfaces of the handbag to expand the handbag to a beneficial storage shape. During and after inflation, the planar portions of the frame limit a force exerted upon particular portions of the handbag, for example a frame or latch of the handbag.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure relates to a system and method for protecting purses, and in particular, preserving their proper shape during storage with a shape limiting frame and an inflatable bladder.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Inflatable bladders can be found in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, as shown for example at www.atlinc.com/inflatables.html.

A foot shaped inflatable stuffing is disclosed for footwear in U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,532.

In inflatable insert for hand bags is shown in U.S. Design Patent 316,633.

An inflatable device for a handbag is disclosed in WIPO Publication WO 2013/160726, which is fabricated with polyvinyl chloride that is heat sealed to form two inflatable chambers. The device includes a re-sealable security valve, and can have an inflated shape which correspond to the expanded shape of the handbag.

Handbags, purses, bags, satchels, sacks, and other forms of carryable containers, hereinafter handbags, may be fabricated to have an attractive appearance, whether used as a personal accessory, or for carrying gear or business equipment. One example is shown in FIG. 1, although such handbags may have many alternative forms, including circular, ovoid, polygonal, elliptical, round, square, rectangular, triangular, irregular shape, or combinations of the foregoing. Handbags may differ in shape from side to side, front to back, and top to bottom. Each panel or portion of the handbag may have similar or dissimilar shapes relative to other panels of the handbag. There may further be structures within the interior of the handbag for holding objects, or for decorative purposes. Handbags may further be decorated with functional or non-functional straps, buckles, hooks, emblems, or other adornments or devices.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In an embodiment of the disclosure, a method of stabilizing a handbag shape during storage comprises assembling an expandable bladder inside a limiting frame, the frame including planar portions positioned proximate the expandable bladder to prevent expansion of the bladder in the direction of the planar portions; positioning the assembled expandable bladder and frame inside the handbag; inflating the bladder to exert a force against interior surfaces of the handbag to expand the handbag to a beneficial storage shape, the planar portions substantially preventing exerting a force against selected interior surfaces of the handbag during expansion.

In various embodiments thereof, the planar portions assembled are elongated, and are positioned about a perimeter of the expandable bladder; the limiting frame further includes a wire stiffener connected to the planar portions to provide strength to the planar portions; when the assembled expandable bladder and limiting frame are positioned within the handbag, the limiting frame is positioned proximate a frame portion of the handbag to protect the frame portion of the handbag from forces exerted by expansion of the expandable bladder; and/or the expandable bladder is shaped to conform to a desired interior shape and dimension of the handbag when the handbag is properly stabilized for storage.

In other variations thereof, the method further includes placing the assembled expandable bladder and limiting frame into an envelope before positioning the assembled expandable bladder and frame inside the handbag; the envelope is sized and dimensioned to limit an expansion of the expandable bladder; the envelope is expandable along predetermined dimensions; the envelope is reopenably closed using a fastener selected from the group consisting of hook and loop fastener, snap, clip, or zipper; and/or a limiting frame and expandable bladder are selected from a plurality of limiting frames and expandable bladders having a variety of different shapes and dimensions to provide an assembly of limiting frame and expandable bladder that corresponds in size and inflated dimension to an interior of a handbag to be stored.

In yet further variations thereof, a limiting frame, expandable bladder, and envelope are selected from a plurality of limiting frames, expandable bladders, and envelopes having a variety of different shapes and dimensions, to provide an assembly of limiting frame, expandable bladder, and envelope that corresponds in size and inflated dimension to an interior of a handbag to be stored; positioning the assembled expandable bladder and frame inside the handbag includes positioning two connected assemblies inside the handbag, each assembly having a limiting frame and expandable bladder; and/or the two assemblies are connected by at least one of a tether and a hinge.

In additional variations thereof, the expandable bladder includes one or more vents for admitting and releasing gas into the expandable bladder to expand and deflate the expandable bladder; the expandable bladder includes a plurality of expandable chambers; the chambers are in gas communication relative to each other; the chambers are not in gas communication relative to each other; and/or an expandable bladder includes a first set of chambers which are in gas communication relative to each other, and at least one chamber that is not in gas communication with the first set of chambers.

In another embodiment of the disclosure, a method of stabilizing a handbag shape during storage comprises assembling an expandable bladder inside a limiting frame, the frame including planar portions positioned proximate the expandable bladder to prevent expansion of the bladder in the direction of the planar portions, the planar portions supported by a stiffener that is relatively more narrow than the planar portions; positioning the assembled expandable bladder and frame inside an expandable outer envelope; positioning the assembled expandable bladder, frame, and envelope inside the handbag; and inflating the bladder to exert a force against interior surfaces of the handbag to expand the handbag to a beneficial storage shape, the planar portions substantially preventing exerting a force against selected interior surfaces of the handbag during expansion.

In a further embodiment of the disclosure, a device for stabilizing a handbag shape during storage comprises a limiting frame, the frame including elongate planar portions; an inflatable expandable bladder positioned proximate the limiting frame; and an expandable envelope containing the limiting frame and expandable bladder, the expandable envelope and contained limiting frame and expandable bladder sized and dimensioned to be positionable inside an interior of the handbag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present disclosure, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative handbag of the prior art;

FIG. 2 depicts a device of the disclosure, including a frame and expander (not visible), and an outer envelope;

FIG. 3 depicts the device of FIG. 2, assembled within the handbag of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 depicts an inner frame of a limiter of the disclosure;

FIG. 5 depicts limiter panels of the disclosure;

FIG. 6 depicts the frame of FIG. 4 assembled within the panels of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 depicts a deflated expander of the disclosure;

FIG. 8 depicts an inflated expander of the disclosure;

FIG. 9 depicts a partially inflated expander within the limiter of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 depicts two of the assembly of FIG. 9 hingedly connected;

FIG. 11 depicts an outer envelope of the disclosure; and

FIG. 12 depicts an expander including a plurality of chambers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

As required, detailed embodiments are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples and that the systems and methods described below can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present subject matter in virtually any appropriately detailed structure and function. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting, but rather, to provide an understandable description of the concepts.

The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term plurality, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as “connected,” although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.

An example carry bag or handbag 10 of the prior art is illustrated in FIG. 1. A wide variety of shapes and sizes of such handbags are known, and may hereinafter be developed. In many cases, such handbags are fabricated using expensive materials, and the handbags themselves may be expensive. It is desired, therefore, to maintain the handbag 10 in an optimum condition when not in use.

Storage of such handbags 10 can result in the bag sagging or crumpling, which can cause wear of the materials used to compose the bag. For example, creases may form, which ultimately can cause cracking or other degradation of the material. Additionally, the handbag 10 can lose an intended shape. In some cases, the shape of the handbag 10 is simple, and in other cases, the shape can be complex. In either event, the shape may be provided for decorative purposes and/or to function best for an intended purpose, and the loss of shape is undesirable.

With reference to FIGS. 2-12, in accordance with the disclosure, a device 100 for protecting handbags 10 includes a shape limiting frame, or limiter 200, an inflatable pouch, balloon, bladder, or expander 300 that is positioned within or adjacent limiter 200, and an outer case, pouch, or envelope 400 that contains both limiter 200 and expander 300.

Limiter 200 is configured to be sufficiently stiff to substantially prevent, control, and/or limit the expansion of expander 300 in particular directions. As can be seen in FIG. 8, it may be seen that expander 300 can expand, to an extent, in all dimensions when filled with a gas or liquid, absent structure which limits this expansion, as disclosed herein. It may be desired to prevent expansion of expander 300 from pressing too forcefully upon portions of handbag 10, for example delicate portions, non-resilient portions such as a frame or hinge, or portions which otherwise are not in need of support during storage. Limiter 200 is shaped to block expansion or movement of expander 300 into potentially harmful or unneeded contact with predetermined parts of handbag 10, when expander 300 and limiter 200 are positioned within handbag 10 and expander 300 is inflated. For example, it may be desired to prevent expander 300 from pressing upon a rigid or delicate frame, latch, or decoration of handbag 10 with sufficient force to thereby bend or damage the rigid or delicate part.

In the embodiment shown, limiter 200 is an assembly of panels 210 cooperative with an inner frame 220, the assembly sufficiently stiff to substantially impede expansion of expander 300 beyond the dimensions of limiter 200. In this embodiment, frame 220 is a wire or stiff band, fabricated for example from metal, plastic, for example high molecular weight plastic, carbon fiber, or any other material of low resilience and high strength. Panels 210 can be used in place of additional frame 220 material, to reduce overall weight, and to distribute the limiting force of frame 220. Additionally, panels 210 can be more easily cut or shaped to fit complex or precise contours of portions of the interior of handbag 10 requiring support or protection from expansion. Thus, the stiffening frame 220 can be relatively more narrow, and/or use less material, than the panels 210. This can facilitate shaping or reshaping panels 210 to conform to the handbag 10.

As can be seen in FIGS. 5-6, panels 210A and 210B are mutually connected by stitching 212. However, it should be understood that panels 210A and 210B can be formed as a single panel folded over and stitched along one side, or they may be glued, ultrasonically welded, snapped together, or fastened by any other known means. In the embodiment illustrated, frame 220 has been inserted between panels 210A and 210B. More particularly, frame ends 222 are not connected until after panels 210 have been inserted over frame 220. In an embodiment, frame 220 is bent after being inserted between panels 210. Alternatively, panels 210A and 210B can be connected after being assembled onto frame 220. In a yet further embodiment, frame 220 can be attached to a surface of one or more of panels 210A or 210B, for example by adhesion, clips, or other fastener. If frame 220 includes free ends, these can be connected for stability, and/or to protect piercing materials of handbag 10 or device 100. Methods of connection can include tape, a tube 224, shrink tube, welding, soldering brazing, ultrasonically welding, heat welding, or any other known means.

While a single limiter 200 is illustrated in the figures, it should be understood that more than one limiter 200 can be used, for example limiters 200 disposed parallel, at an angle, or transverse to each other. One or more limiters 200 can include a tether or hinged portion, so that expansion of the expander 300 causes limiter 200 portions to hinge outwards into contact with predetermined inner portions of handbag 10. One example is illustrated in FIG. 10, in which two assemblies of FIG. 9 are connected by an articulating or flexible hinge 226. Each assembly includes an expander 300, and in the embodiment shown, the expanders 300 mutually contact to tilt the assembly outwards to conform to an interior contour of a handbag.

Referring to FIG. 7, expander 300 is formed of two layers 330, 332 of thermoplastic that are sealed along an outer peripheral edge. In this manner, custom shapes are easily produced by cutting sheets of material. It should be understood, however, that expander 300 can be formed by any known or hereinafter method for producing a reversibly inflatable structure, including for example casting over a mold as one part, or stamping and combining cut pieces. Pieces or layers 330, 332 can be connected in an air tight manner by ultrasonic welding, adhesion, melting, clips, sewing, or other known or hereinafter developed method. The material of the expander can be any material of sufficient gas impermeability, strength, resilience, compatibility with handbag 10, and durability for carrying out the tasks described herein. Examples include rubber, vinyl, thermoplastic, latex, polychloroprene, nylon or other fabric, although these should not be considered as limiting. While expander 300 can be filled with air, other gases can also be used, such as helium, hydrogen, nitrous oxide, and oxygen.

A re-sealable vent 302 is positioned at a location on a surface of expander 300. Any known suitable vent type can be used, including a self-sealing vent such as may be found on athletic equipment, or a manually movable valve, such as is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In another embodiment, depicted in FIG. 11, a stopper can be hingedly connected to the vent, for example of the type typically found on a beach ball or inflatable pool toy. Separate filling and venting valves can be provided. Inflation can be accomplished by mouth, or with a tool such as a hand pump or electric pump.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, expander 300 can be inserted within limiter 200 before being inflated, to limit expansion along certain contours or aspects of expander 300. Further, to retain the assembled limiter 200 and expander 300 in an assembled, deployable condition, the assembly 200/300 can be inserted into an outer envelope 400, shown in FIG. 11. Envelope 400 can be fabricated from any flexible material, for example a natural or synthetic cloth, or a flexible polymeric film. In the example shown, assembly 200/300 is inserted within envelope 400, as shown in FIG. 2, with any valves/vents 302 passable through an opening, slit or aperture 402. In the embodiment shown, envelope 400 is sewn shut to securely contain assembly 200/300. However, envelope 400 can be easily reopenable by being closed or sealed using hook and loop fasteners, snaps, clips, or zippers, for example, or may be more fixedly sealed using stitches, staples, heat sealing, or glue. Envelope 400 can be assembled and closed or sealed by any other type of fastener known or hereinafter developed. It should be considered that the fabric chosen, as well as the fastener type, should be selected to protect the interior materials and finish of the handbag 10.

In addition to maintaining a relative position of expander 300 and limiter 200 before, during, and after deployment, envelope 400 can be sized and dimensioned to control, limit, or direct expansion of expander 300. More particularly, envelope 400 can be sufficiently loose and/or flexible to enable expander to fill an interior volume of handbag 10, subject to constraints imposed by limiter 200. Envelope 400 can include, for example, folds, creases, elastic panels or materials, mesh materials or panels, or other expandable structure to permit expansion of envelope 400 and contained materials. Thus, while limiter 200 may serve to form a substantial block to expansion of expander 300 along a particular set of directions, envelope may allow expansion to predetermined limits in other directions. Expander 300 can thus expand to fill irregular shapes within the interior of handbag 10, to a maximum extent of stretching or filling of envelope 400.

It should be understood that envelope 400 is not required to be used in all applications of device 100. For example, expander 300 can be connected to limiter 200 by friction, adhesive, hook and loop fastener, or any other known means. In such examples, envelope 400 can be omitted, or can be used for decorative purposes.

Further, envelope 400 can be irregularly shaped, to match an inner dimension or contour of handbag 10, thereby guiding expansion of expander 300 in a manner which closely conforms to a desired interior and exterior configuration for handbag 10 during storage. In an embodiment, limiter 200, expander 300, and envelope are each individually selected for a particular handbag model, and are assembled for sale as a unit together with a handbag 10. For example, a device 100 including an assembly of 200/300/400 can be selected at a point of sale, for a new handbag purchase. Alternatively, the components can be purchased post-sale, based upon known dimensions of a particular handbag model. Yet further, a handbag can be measured for selecting components 200/300/400, or a variety of components 200/300/400 can be test fit to obtain an optimum result. Still further, limiter 200 can be custom bent, for example using a tool or by hand, to conform to a particular handbag 10 configuration; expander 300 can be banded or taped to limit expansion; and/or envelope 400 can be clipped, pinned, or sewn to match a desired maximum dimension.

With reference to FIG. 12, in an embodiment, expander 300A is configured as a plurality of chambers 308A and/or 308B which may be connected one to the other by a gas passage, or can be separately fillable, respectively. The chambers can be formed by heat sealing, gluing, or otherwise fastening portions of expander 300 together, for example by bonding layers 330, 332 together to form one or more seams 310A, 310B. Seams 310A can extend along a portion of an area of expander 300, allowing gas to pass around seam 310A to adjacent areas, or seam 310B can extend across a complete dimension of expander 300, creating a discrete expandable portion. An expander 300 can include only joined chambers 308A, only separate chambers 308B, or a combination of each, as shown in FIG. 12. The dimensions of all formed chambers may thus be different, or independently adjustable, to conform to a particular handbag, or to be adjustable to conform to a variety of handbags of differing shapes and dimensions.

All references cited herein are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. There are many different features to the present disclosure and it is contemplated that these features may be used together or separately. Thus, the disclosure should not be limited to any particular combination of features or to a particular application of the disclosure. Further, it should be understood that variations and modifications within the spirit and scope of the disclosure might occur to those skilled in the art to which the disclosure pertains. Accordingly, all expedient modifications readily attainable by one versed in the art from the disclosure set forth herein that are within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure are to be included as further embodiments of the present disclosure. 

1. A method of stabilizing a handbag shape during storage, comprising: assembling an expandable bladder inside a limiting frame, the frame including planar portions positioned proximate the expandable bladder to prevent expansion of the bladder in the direction of the planar portions; positioning the assembled expandable bladder and frame inside the handbag; and inflating the bladder to exert a force against interior surfaces of the handbag to expand the handbag to a beneficial storage shape, the planar portions substantially preventing exerting a force against selected interior surfaces of the handbag during expansion.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the planar portions assembled are elongated, and are positioned about a perimeter of the expandable bladder.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the limiting frame further includes a wire stiffener connected to the planar portions to provide strength to the planar portions.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein when the assembled expandable bladder and limiting frame are positioned within the handbag, the limiting frame is positioned proximate a frame portion of the handbag to protect the frame portion of the handbag from forces exerted by expansion of the expandable bladder.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the expandable bladder is shaped to conform to a desired interior shape and dimension of the handbag when the handbag is properly stabilized for storage.
 6. The method of claim 1, further including placing the assembled expandable bladder and limiting frame into an envelope before positioning the assembled expandable bladder and frame inside the handbag.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the envelope is sized and dimensioned to limit an expansion of the expandable bladder.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the envelope is expandable along predetermined dimensions.
 9. The method of claim 6, wherein the envelope is reopenably closed using a fastener selected from the group consisting of hook and loop fastener, snap, clip, or zipper.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein a limiting frame and expandable bladder are selected from a plurality of limiting frames and expandable bladders having a variety of different shapes and dimensions to provide an assembly of limiting frame and expandable bladder that corresponds in size and inflated dimension to an interior of a handbag to be stored.
 11. The method of claim 6, wherein a limiting frame, expandable bladder, and envelope are selected from a plurality of limiting frames, expandable bladders, and envelopes having a variety of different shapes and dimensions, to provide an assembly of limiting frame, expandable bladder, and envelope that corresponds in size and inflated dimension to an interior of a handbag to be stored.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning the assembled expandable bladder and frame inside the handbag includes positioning two connected assemblies inside the handbag, each assembly having a limiting frame and expandable bladder.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the two assemblies are connected by at least one of a tether and a hinge.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the expandable bladder includes one or more vents for admitting and releasing gas into the expandable bladder to expand and deflate the expandable bladder.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the expandable bladder includes a plurality of expandable chambers.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the chambers are in gas communication relative to each other.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the chambers are not in gas communication relative to each other.
 18. The method of claim 15, wherein an expandable bladder includes a first set of chambers which are in gas communication relative to each other, and at least one chamber that is not in gas communication with the first set of chambers.
 19. A method of stabilizing a handbag shape during storage, comprising: assembling an expandable bladder inside a limiting frame, the frame including planar portions positioned proximate the expandable bladder to prevent expansion of the bladder in the direction of the planar portions, the planar portions supported by a stiffener that is relatively more narrow than the planar portions; positioning the assembled expandable bladder and frame inside an expandable outer envelope; positioning the assembled expandable bladder, frame, and envelope inside the handbag; and inflating the bladder to exert a force against interior surfaces of the handbag to expand the handbag to a beneficial storage shape, the planar portions substantially preventing exerting a force against selected interior surfaces of the handbag during expansion.
 20. A device for stabilizing a handbag shape during storage, comprising: a limiting frame, the frame including elongate planar portions; an inflatable expandable bladder positioned proximate the limiting frame; and an expandable envelope containing the limiting frame and expandable bladder, the expandable envelope and contained limiting frame and expandable bladder sized and dimensioned to be positionable inside an interior of the handbag. 